Petition against Hooksett board member gains more than 80 signatures

HOOKSETT — A petition started by a Hooksett resident asking for the removal of School Board member John Lyscars has gotten more than 80 signatures since it was started late last month.

Resident Alyssa Zapora Ehl started the petition because of what she says is Lyscar's erratic behavior towards fellow board members and members of the public.

"This petition has no power, in the state of New Hampshire there is no RSA for a petition to recall, so it carries no weight. It is just to hopefully be a wake up call that (Lyscars') behavior is unacceptable," Ehl said.

Lyscars said that the petition was started and is being signed by residents who are in favor of the Pinkerton contract the board recently approved, which Lyscars said he opposes.

"What it is, I have been very clear in saying this since the beginning, I can work with anyone, I have never had this kind of problem before and if you want to talk logically I can talk. But attack me personally and I counter attack. They disagree that a politician should do that, that a politician should take a higher ground, and that's just not me," Lyscars said.

Ehl said that she and her husband have had problems with Lyscars in the past, and referenced social media posts where Lyscars calls a resident a doofus, a dink, and questions if one resident suffered too many hockey injuries to the head.

David Ehl was one of the residents at the Dec. 17 school board meeting when Lyscars held up a pink winking smiley face during public comment. Lyscars previously said that the smiley face was a wink and a smile for residents who believed they could convince others that he is crazy.

"We spent more time talking about me than discussing the 10-year high school contract. (Board Chairman Trisha Korkosz) should have said no personal attacks, but she has hidden agendas and we have a dysfunctional board which we will have until the March elections," Lyscars said.

Korkosz said that Lyscars' behavior has gotten progressively worse, and that she is not surprised that the petition exists.

"I think the level of unhappiness (with Lyscars' behavior) is increasing in the community. And I don't think it is about people who disagree with him but about the lack of respect. Two people can adamantly disagree but you don't hold up a winky face. I myself have been criticized in meetings and sat there, I have not argued with the public or held up signs. We live in a country where people are allowed to have opinions," Korkosz said.

Korkosz added that she is also not surprised that Lyscars has said that his behavior, which includes yelling during a meeting that he must speak for the children of Hooksett and occasionally dressing as a Christmas elf, will not change.

"I think (the petition) is a place for people to channel their energy. Mr. Lyscars has personally attacked people who don't agree with his views," Korkosz said.

Ehl admitted that she was hoping the petition would garner more than 83 signatures in a month, but said that many people are afraid of signing it because they fear Lyscars' reaction.

"People don't want their good names dragged through the mud," Ehl said.